Report: Independent expenditures pour into Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine Citizens for Clean Elections says outside money is pouring into Maine and that it's being funneled in such a way that it's difficult to track who's behind the money.

A report released Monday said money from outside groups seeking to influence Maine legislatives races grew by more than 500 percent from 2008 to 2012.

The report says some nonprofits were able to shield corporate or individual donors behind those expenditures, transferring money multiple times before a donation is made.

BJ McCollister from the Maine Citizens for Clean Elections says it's gotten to the point that voters "are hearing more from outside groups than from the candidates themselves." He said large donations that cannot be traced "pose a serious risk to our democracy."

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